Friday, March 29, 2024

Anwar Jamison’s ‘Coming To Africa’ Showcases American Black Love in the Motherland

*LOS ANGELES – The award-winning romantic comedy, “Coming to Africa,” written and directed by Anwar Jamison  is set for a holiday release on Black Friday – that is, Friday, November 27, 2020 on all digital platforms, including Amazon, Apple TV, Google Play and Vudu.

“Coming to Africa” is a romantic comedy, which explores the themes of classism, racism and social consciousness behind the backdrop of contemporary black love. The film boasts an ensemble cast, which includes Jamison, along with Khalil Kain (“Juice,” “Girlfriends”) and Ghanaian tv and film star Nana Ama McBrown (“Tentacles,” “Asoreba”).

In this new role, Jamison portrays a Black man blinded by his personal aspirations and success; and not interested in any dialogue about the social ills of the world. Afraid to rock the boat, he’s unwilling to use his privilege and position to sound an alarm for political or social injustice. In fact, he’s adapted to his privilege culture quite comfortably, until a dose of reality and a trip to the Motherland changes his world.

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Anwar Jamison (Facebook)
Anwar Jamison (Facebook)

Heartwarming and funny, “Coming to Africa” will transport audiences to Ghana, watch a Black man transform his heart and soul and discover his self identity – all thanks to the power of #BlackLove.

Currently, “Coming to Africa” is making the film festival rounds. It has been named an official selection in the 23rd annual Indie Memphis Film Festival set to take place virtually October 21-29, 2020 in Memphis, Tenn. The nine-day festival will screen a distinctive lineup of narrative features, documentaries, and short films.

Due to the pandemic, the festival will offer virtual and  outdoor screenings, including nightly films at the Malco Summer Drive-In, as well as lawn screenings at venues around town, including Shelby Farms, Levitt Shell, The Grove at GPAC, the Stax Museum parking lot, and the Downtown Riverfront. Virtual events of the festival will be accessible for attendees both in and outside of the Memphis area to view films on their devices, and participate in online events and discussions. For more information, visit www.IndieMemphis.org.

Coming to Africa - poster

COMING TO AFRICA | Indie Memphis Film Festival

  • Friday, October 23, 2020

Downtown Memphis on the Mississippi River

6:30 p.m.

  • Special guests:Director Anwar Jamison and actor Khalil Kain (“Juice,” “Girlfriends”) will host a Q & A session, following the screening of the film.

“Coming to Africa” came up a big winner at the  7th annual Las Vegas Black Film Festival (LVBFF), nominated for six jury awards, and nabbing three of them – that is, Best Romance, Best Comedy and Best Actress. For the social press release about “Coming to Africa” at LVBFF, visit https://pitchengine.com/wyllisa-bennett-publicist-du-jour/2020/08/05/new-romantic-comedy-coming-to-africa-showcase/002518056449896794292

After its festival run, “Coming to Africa” will hit theatres in November 2020 with several  “pop up” screenings before its release on digital platforms.

COMING SOON!
Saturday, November 142020
Atlanta, GA

TBA

Saturday, November 21, 2020
Cinemark 17 IMAX Theater
Dallas, Texas
7 p.m.

Wednesday, November 25, 2020
Kenosha, Wisconsin
Cinemark Tinseltown USA Theater
7 p.m.

Interestingly, the “Coming to Africa” soundtrack features music from some of the most popular artists in Ghana, including the winner of the BET Best International Act and BET Hip-Hop Best International Flow Award – that is, rapper Sarkodie, along with the winner of the BET Best International Act – Ghanaian Afropop, dance hall and reggae singer  Stonebwoy.

“Coming to Africa” was shot in Memphis, Tennessee and Accra, Ghana. The romcom was produced by Ghanaian tv host PY Addo Boateng. Jamison served as executive producer. Mi Prime Entertainment and Hood Professor Productions served as the production companies on this project.

FUN FACT: “Coming to Africa” was shot in Ghana during the country’s yearlong celebration of the Year of Return, Ghana 2019, which celebrated the achievements and sacrifices of Africans in the Diaspora, and encouraged resettlement and investment in the continent. Among the list of celebrities who visited Ghana during the Year of Return includes Jay-Z, Idris Elba, Campbell, Anthony Anderson, and Steve Harvey – just to name a few. In fact, Beyonce’ filmed her visual album, “Black is King,” in Ghana.

COMING TO AFRICA | run time: 95 minutes | movie synopsis

Adrian (Anwar Jamison) has spent his entire adult life, climbing the Corporate America ladder and playing the necessary games to get ahead. He’s bought into the “American Dream” – hook, line and sinker — and he’s been extremely successful in the corporate world because of it. But, he’s not the most conscious brotha! As a Black man, he’s intentionally shied away from any talk of social justice and racial inequality or leveraged his position to help the Black community. Instead, he believes that the richer Black people become, the better off they’ll be in the struggle. That’s all that matters to him in his rise to the top.  He’s poised for a HUGE promotion on his job, making him the first African-American vice president in the history of his company.  But, racism rears its ugly head, and he gets a reality check!

On the flip side, Adrian’s brother, Buck (Khalil Kain), is a barber and social activist, who routinely holds community meetings in his barber shop. He’s fully engaged in social change and the liberation of Black people in America — that is, when he’s not cutting hair.  So too is Adrian’s other brother, Adonis (Powwah Uhuru), who’s been saving up for more than a year to celebrate his 10th wedding anniversary and gift his wife with the ultimate wedding gift – that is, a trip to Africa. After a perfect storm of disappointment and discrimination, Adrian finds himself in Ghana on an amusing adventure where he meets the beautiful Akosua (Nana Ama McBrown) and finds the nourishment he truly needs for his soul.

Coming to Africa - poster small

To view the trailer of “Coming to Africa,” visit  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fd77UhujVII&t=1s

 

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Hashtags: #ComingToAfrica #LVBFF2020

 

ABOUT ANWAR JAMISON, director

Anwar Jamison is a Memphis-based filmmaker, writer and professor. A child prodigy, he began kindergarten at the age of two at Sister Clara Muhammad Preparatory School in Racine, Wisconsin.  At the age of four, he attended John Robert Powers Acting School in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and was featured in several commercials. He began writing short stories at seven years of age and raps at nine, respectfully.

Jamison has a bachelor’s degree in English Writing from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. He went on to receive a master’s in English as well as master’s in Film & Video Production from the University of Memphis.

With his fingers in the music business, he eventually stepped away to become a filmmaker, writing and directing his first feature film in 2008, “Funeral Arrangements,” which was distributed nationally by Select-O-Hits. In 2013, he wrote and directed his sophomore effort, “5 Steps to a Conversation,” also distributed nationally by Select-O-Hits. Four years later, he released the documentary feature, “A Bitter Pill to Swallow,” tackling the epidemic of prescription pill abuse as a street drug and its effect on the users, their families and the community.

Last year, Jamison traveled to Accra, Ghana, to shoot “Coming to Africa” during the country’s Year of Return celebration. The movie is the fourth feature film that he has written, directed and executive produced.

Jamison is an English professor, who established the Digital Media & Film program in 2012 at Arkansas State University Mid-South in West Memphis, Arkansas.  He serves as lead faculty. With Jamison’s academic appointment and independent entrepreneurship, combined with his mastery of the various aspects of content creation including writing, directing, acting, producing, rapping and editing, Jamison is a multi-talented force in the entertainment industry.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

source:
Wyllisa Bennett, publicist du jour
[email protected]

Wyllisa Bennett

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